Years ago I packed the president of CVA along with his top salesman and his secretary into the South San Juan mts for a ML elk hunt. The President "can't remember his name and this was probably early 90's" introduced me to a new product that was like a condom of muzzle loaders.....simply put it was a tiny condom shaped black latex that was pulled down over the muzzle end of the gun.

Does anyone know if they still make them? Apparently the concept was to keep dirt and moisture out of the end of the barrel while hunting and at the moment of ignition the pressure would safely erupt the "rubber" allowing for no back pressure at all.

Traditionally a tampon was used to stop water from going down the muzzle on military muskets...but of course it had to be removed before firing. For flintlocks a "cows knee" was used to keep lock from getting wet, but I also learned early on, to run a tiny bead of bees wax around the pan before pressing the frizzen down, while leaving the cock at half.

I found the little "barrel cots" intriguing when they were introduced to me back then.....safer than anything else that might in the slightest obstruct the muzzle.